by Andy Lyons, Editor-in-Chief
Artist David Bowie has died after an 18 month battle with cancer, confirmed via his Facebook page. He was 69.
The influential singer-songwriter and producer was known for an eclectic career in both music and acting. He just released his 25th album, Blackstar, Jan. 8, which was his birthday.
Bowie achieved his first major American success with the No. 1 single “Fame” off the top 10 album Young Americans, then followed with the 1976 avant-garde art rock LP Station to Station, which made it to No. 3 on the charts and featured top 10 hit “Golden Years.” Other memorable songs include 1983’s “Let’s Dance,” “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” “China Girl,” “Modern Love,” “Rebel, Rebel,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Panic in Detroit,” “Fashion,” “Life on Mars,” and “Suffragette City.”
Some of Bowie’s notable acting roles include Pontius Pilate in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He also starred opposite Jennifer Connelly as Jareth the Goblin King in the 1986 cult favorite Labyrinth, directed by Jim Henson.
A video for the song “Lazarus,” which is included on the album Blackstar, was released on Jan. 7.
Survivors include his wife, the model Iman, whom he married in 1992; his son, director Duncan Jones; and daughter Alexandria.